Changes: The Dresden Files, Book 12

Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry.

This book is by far the best in the series. If your reading this review and haven't heard of the Dresden Files yet then I envy you. You get to have an 11 book thrill ride with one of the most memerable heroes I have ever read about and THEN you get to listen to 'Changes'....you lucky bastard.

And as for the performance....i would give a monthes salary if i could experience Marsters' potrail of Harry at the Climax of this book one more time. Bravo.

Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America

On a warm spring evening in South Los Angeles, a young man is shot and killed on a sidewalk minutes away from his home--one of the thousands of black Americans murdered that year. His assailant runs down the street, jumps into an SUV, and vanishes, hoping to join the scores of killers in American cities who are never arrested for their crimes.

I bought this book after watching the Leovy interview on the Daily show. I was very impressed with her impeccably coherent explanations, her passion for this story, and with her ideas about crime in America that seemed more than just talking points from talking heads spouting 'truthiness'. This book was all of those things.

Blood Song: Raven's Shadow, Book 1

The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm. Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of 10 when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order. The Brothers of the Sixth Order are devoted to battle, and Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a Warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order.

This book lives up to the hype. It's a long winding tale that never seems to get dull. Every adventure had me interested in what was going on. there is an epic feel to the main character that keeps you interested in what he will accomplish next. If I had to pick the first three words that come to mind when I describe this book I'd put them in the title of a review about it.

Daemon

Thousands of autonomous computer programs, or daemons, make our networked world possible, running constantly in the background of our lives, trafficking e-mail, transferring money, and monitoring power grids. For the most part, daemons are benign, but the same can't always be said for the people who design them.

Whenever I finish an amazing book I feel obligated to spread the word. I want to pay the author back in some small way for the enjoyment I got out of his or her work. This is one of those series I have been telling everyone one that will listen to me about. Read. This. Series.

Freedom (TM)

In a world of conflicted loyalties, rapidly diminishing human power, and the possibility that anyone can be a spy, what's at stake is nothing less than human freedom's last hope to survive the technology revolution.

Daniel Suarez's vision of the near future is as scary as it is plausible (at least as it is written). The political philosophy (normally a huge turn off for me when forced into a narrative) only added to the story and actually had me pausing the book so that I could think through the implications of what the characters were talking about. Forget Crichton, this guys is the new harbinger of soon to be tech. I love this book.

Influx

Particle physicist Jon Grady is ecstatic when his team achieves what they've been working toward for years: A device that can reflect gravity. Their research will revolutionize the field of physics - the crowning achievement of a career. Grady expects widespread acclaim for his entire team. The Nobel Prize. Instead, his lab is locked down by a shadowy organization whose mission is to prevent at all costs the social upheaval sudden technological advances bring.

That feeling when you know you are about to purchase and binge listen to everything they have ever written? This book is awesome. Couched in what feels like real science...which for me is something I need in order to completely suspend my belief in what is happening in the story. When your characters can fly and cast sleep spells in a context that is feels like it's only a few years away from being reality, then you can be assured I'm going to be interested in what's happening...do that and have a gripping story to boot? then you, sir ....get 5 stars.

The Vor Game: A Miles Vorkosigan Novel

Miles Vorkosigan graduates from the Barrayaran Military Academy with high expectations of ship command, but is disappointed with an assignment as meteorologist to Lazkowski Base, an arctic training camp. His tenure in the windy, snow-covered north is cut short when Miles narrowly averts a massacre between the trigger-happy base commander and mutinous recruits. After a brief stay under 'house arrest', Miles is re-assigned to investigate a suspicious military build-up near a wormhole nexus.

When it comes to a series that gets me hooked and more importantly KEEPS me salivating for the next installment the number one most imporant aspect is having that gripping main character. The Vorkosikan hero Miles is exactly that. I am now 7 books into this fantastic series (skipping all the ones that didn't have Miles as the main character that is) and have yet to be let down. Miles is in the same catagory as Dresden, Kvothe, Jack Campbell and other protagonists that I could not read enough about.

If you're looking for a new series and feel the same way about your stories, then pick this one up (this is the first story featuring Miles, I started the series a few years ago with one of the early books that didn't have Miles and didn't finish it).

A note about the 4/5 stars for story.......While i love miles....the story is a little....far fetched i this installment. But that does not really detract from how much I enjoyed the book as a whole.

Mech Zero: The Dominant

Death awaits the curious! Out along the rim of the galaxy hangs a loose configuration of some 60 stars known as the Faustian Chain. This whorl of sparkling suns is rich in planets and occupies an irregular volume of space some 20 light years in diameter. From an external viewpoint, the Chain presents a colorful display of plasma-streams, luminous nebulae and sparkling pinpoints of light.

The Heart of Matter: Odyssey One, Book 2

On her epic maiden voyage, the NAC spacecraft Odyssey introduced Earth to the wonders of an untouched universe - and the unimagined horrors lurking in the black. Now the Odyssey’s second voyage will carry Captain Eric Weston and his crew back to a familiar battlefield, to face an enemy unlike any they have ever known. For on war-torn Ranquil, homeworld of Earth’s newest ally, the Priminae, the invading Drasin are but foot soldiers for a powerful unseen force. Unmasking the mysterious puppet masters means defying orders and venturing into deep space.

ARRGGHHH!!! As you can see I am upset with you Evan! I'm going to buy the third book, but you better make it as good as the first one. Cause for some reason I am struggling to finish this second installment.

Earth Strike: Star Carrier, Book One

There is a milestone in the evolution of every sentient race, a Tech Singularity Event, when the species achieves transcendence through its technological advances. Now the creatures known as humans are near this momentous turning point. But an armed threat is approaching from deepest space, determined to prevent humankind from crossing over that boundary - by total annihilation if necessary.

Zombie Fallout: Zombie Fallout, Book 1

This is the story of Michael Talbot, his family, and his friends: a band of ordinary people trying to get by in extraordinary times. When disaster strikes, Mike, a self-proclaimed survivalist, does his best to ensure the safety and security of those he cares for. Book one of the Zombie Fallout Trilogy follows our lead character at his self-deprecating, sarcastic best. What he encounters along the way leads him down a long dark road, always skirting the edge of insanity.

I was immediatly engaged with the main character. And by the end of chapter one I was already excited that I might have found another series to get hopelessly addicted too.

but then.....I'm not sure....Maybe it was the wierd 'twists' that the author was trying to take with the zombies (which i understand) ..... or the strange and out of place 'powers' some of the characters seem to have.....or just some of the plot events that maybe seemed like awkward extra limbs...or the behavior of the extra characters that seemed wholly unbelievable given the situation (like he tried for the 'levity in spite of long odds' that the dresden files uses to amazing effect but couldn't quite pull it off) I don't know.

I haven't given up hope, but this book has fallen by the wayside already....and I very rarely come back after that happens.

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